May 2006 the ultimate date for the digital
tachograph

Vice-President Jacques Barrot, in charge of Transport policy, has
written to the Member States to explain and re-affirm the Commission’s
position on the introduction of the digital tachograph. May 2006 must be the
ultimate date for the mandatory introduction of such a tachograph. In his
letter, Vice-President Barrot has asked the Member States to provide the
Commission by 1 March 2006 with a detailed and complete overview of the
preparations at national level, including a confirmation that they will be ready
to put in place the necessary arrangements in due time.

Vice President Jacques Barrot said: “The digital tachograph is
indispensable for enforcing driving times and rest periods of professional
drivers. Its introduction will improve road safety and the social conditions of
truck drivers in Europe. It is important to co-ordinate its introduction which
must happen at the latest by May 2006”.

The introduction of the digital tachograph requires a clear and firm deadline
in order to ensure that all concerned are fully prepared and that the transition
from the analogue to the digital model proceeds smoothly. The Commission
welcomed the firm intention of the European Parliament and the Council, at the
occasion of the Conciliation Committee of 6 December 2005 (IP/05/1538),
to undertake every effort to finalise the new EU Regulation, which would impose
the mandatory introduction of the digital tachograph from early May 2006 onwards
(namely twenty days following the publication of the legal text in the EU
Official Journal, which would bring the introduction date to May 2006).

The Commission accepts this date as the ultimate introduction date which will
allow the transport sector to organise a smooth transition. After this date
Member States will be obliged to enforce the relevant provisions. In practice
this will mean that new trucks registered after that date and which do not have
an operating digital tachograph can be blocked at any time. Drivers who drive
without a driver card risk prosecution.

The digital tachograph is widely available. New vehicles are being offered
with standard fitting of the new equipment. The majority of the Member States
have started to issue tachograph cards and transport operators have started to
use vehicles equipped with the new tachograph in daily operations.

The Commission is concerned to hear that a number of Member States are behind
schedule in establishing the national legislation and the administrative
framework required for the compulsory introduction of the digital tachograph. A
further delay is unacceptable given the long period of preparation that Member
States have already enjoyed. It is a reason for serious concern because any
further delay will severely affect the economies of the countries concerned. The
Commission therefore urges those Member States to put maximum effort in putting
in place the necessary arrangements in time.